TYPES
OF INTERVIEW
Nowadays potential employees should not
take it for granted that their interview
will be a one-one-one situation.
Advances in technology have increased
the potential for applicants to be
tested using a host of different
mediums. Additionally the sheer number
of highly qualified people searching for
jobs increases the need for employees to
find some method of whittling down the
numbers. However this should not scare
off potential employees; as long as you
are prepared, nothing should unsettle
you.
Telephone Interviews
Often a great deal of applicants will
be competing for a single role and
therefore the company will simply not
have the time or resources to meet
everyone personally. A quick chat on the
phone will allow them to narrow down the
numbers further. Although this situation
can be quite nerve racking, in fact it
provides applicants with the perfect
opportunity to practice giving their
thoroughly researched answers in a less
intimidating situation. The following
points should be borne in mind:
- Even though a telephone
conversation is not the same as a
formal interview, this does not mean
that applicants should not go
through the same means of
preparation. Answers to predictable
questions should be thoroughly
researched and applicants should be
polite and respectful.
- Interviewees should remain calm,
even if they are forced to perform
under pressure. Occasionally the
exact time of the conversation will
not be prearranged. In such
circumstances applicants should find
a quiet place to sit and try their
hardest to avoid panicking.
- If a time has been prearranged
for the conversation then
interviewees should forewarn family
members or housemates so that if
they happen to answer the phone
before you they will do so politely.
Endeavour to find a quiet,
comfortable spot which is free of
distractions and where you feel
relaxed.
- Applicants should avoid eating,
drinking or smoking on the phone, as
such noises will come across loudly
to the interviewer and will appear
unprofessional.
Chronological Interviews
During this type of interview the
questioner will take applicants though
their life and ask relevant questions
along the way. Usually the CV and
application you have sent in will be
used as the basis of the interview, and
therefore applicants should read through
all their details prior to arriving at
the meeting. If the application required
you to answer questions then you should
be sure to memorise the answers; nothing
looks more unprofessional than not being
able to remember your own previously
expressed opinions. Additionally, you
should be prepared to explain those
things which you included in your CV,
for instance, why you took a particular
job or what you learnt from a certain
course.
Occupation Based Interviews
Such a meeting will focus primarily
on your occupational history as the
interviewer will be principally
concerned with attempting to discover
the attributes they are searching for in
the perfect employee. These
characteristics can easily be discovered
by reading the job description;
applicants should aim to relate their
answers to these specific attributes.
Preparation is pivotal in this
particular variety of interview, as
clear knowledge of the job in question
will be enough to provide you with the
relevant information to impress the
interviewer with your answers.
Technical Interviews
Certain occupations will require
specific forms of information, which
employees are certain to test you on in
order to determine your suitability for
the role. Such questions are likely to
be exact; applicants should remain calm
and take their time searching for the
correct answer. If you simply cannot
answer the question then explain that
you are unsure of the solution but that
you can offer a possible answer, which
will prove that you are unwilling to
admit defeat. If you are in the process
of completing a course which has not
taught you this specific skill then
explain that you have not covered the
topic yet. However, you should attempt
to relate it to something which you have
studied as this will show the
interviewer how much you have learnt and
how well you cope under pressure.
Tests
Similar suggestions also apply to
written tests. For certain occupations
companies will insist that you sit a
short exam. These are not designed to
make you panic, they simply provide you
with the perfect opportunity to showcase
what you know and demonstrate to the
organisation why they should select you.
Applicants should revise thoroughly
revise prior to sitting the test;
however, if a question arises which you
simply cannot answer then you should use
the information you possess to complete
the question to the best of your
advantage.
Social Situations
Occasionally the interview will be a
more prolonged occasion and applicants
will not be lucky enough to get the
experience over in half an hour. Certain
companies will take all applicants out
for a meal and drinks during the
evening. Such an occasion will allow
interviewers to observe how applicants
handle themselves in social situations.
Although such an event should be
enjoyed, all should be aware that it is
still a test and therefore the following
points should be remembered:
- Applicants should avoid drinking
heavily. A small tipple to calm the
nerves is fine; it is perfectly
acceptable to enjoy a drink with
your meal. However, becoming drunk
will look completely unprofessional
and is a certain route to ensuring
that you are excluded from
consideration for the role.
- It is imperative that applicants
should not use this occasion to
enjoy as much food as possible at
the company's expense. Ordering
outrageous amounts of food will look
greedy and extravagant and potential
employers will worry about the
extent to which you can be trusted
not to abuse company expenses.
- Do not aim to embarrass or
ridicule your fellow applicants.
Such behaviour will appear childish
and absurd and will ensure that you
will be the individual who ends up
looking ridiculous. Behaving
courteously and friendly will appear
gracious and much more mature.
Obviously there are many different
situations in which applicants can find
themselves. All should ensure that they
endeavour to discover prior to the day
of interview exactly how they will be
tested, as then they will be able to
prepare themselves accordingly.
